Universidad Nacional de San Martín

What Universidad Nacional de San Martín does

Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM) is a public national university in Argentina, founded in 1992 and headquartered at Campus Miguelete in San Martín, Province of Buenos Aires, with an additional site (Sede Volta) in the City of Buenos Aires. It operates as a state-funded institution delivering tuition-free higher education through 12 academic units — 8 schools and 4 specialized research institutes — offering 171 active degree programs and 21 doctoral programs across sciences, technology, engineering, humanities, social sciences, economics, politics, arts, and rehabilitation sciences. As of 2025, the institution serves 28,424 active students, employs 615 researchers and fellows, 2,845 university teaching positions, and 938 non-teaching staff, and has produced 29,568 graduates cumulatively since 1996. Over 65% of its resources are allocated to science and technology, and it co-manages research infrastructure with national scientific bodies CONICET, CNEA, INTI, and INTA.

The university generates no tuition revenue; its funding derives from Argentine national government budget allocations, supplemented by research grants and partnerships. Its research outputs include the ARVAC Cecilia Grierson vaccine (Argentina's first 100% domestically developed COVID-19 vaccine), the first Latin American cloned pig with three inactivated genes for xenotransplantation (developed jointly with UBA), a bone regeneration paste, a portable sleep disorder detector, and participation in a NASA mission satellite fabrication. UNSAM distributes education through in-person campuses, an in-prison higher education center (CUSAM), a virtual learning platform (Campus Virtual UNSAM / UNSAM Digital), and a student academic management system (SIU Guaraní). It maintains over 250 international agreements with foreign universities and hosts a UNESCO Chair, positioning it as a research-intensive institution within Argentina's public higher education system.

Name

Universidad Nacional de San Martín

Legal name

Universidad Nacional de San Martín

Website

https://unsam.edu.ar

Company type

Public

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

UNSAM is a public national university in Argentina, founded in 1992, delivering tuition-free undergraduate and graduate education across 12 academic units to 28,424 active students, with over 65% of resources directed to science and technology research.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Research Universities with Engineering/Polytechnic Emphasis (EDAHAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Research Universities with National Laboratories/Big Science Facilities (EDAHAAAJ), Technical Universities with Strong Industry Partnerships (EDAHAEAG)

Keywords

• Public higher education
• Scientific research services
• Graduate degree programs
• Biotechnology research
• Nuclear technology education

Headquarters

HQ city

San Martin

HQ country

Argentina

HQ region

Latin America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Higher Education (Non-Tuition): UNSAM is a public national university that provides tuition-free higher education to all students. As a state university, its primary revenue derives from national government budget allocations, not from student tuition. Additional revenue may come from research grants, extension services, and partnerships with public and private entities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM) is a public national university that provides tuition-free undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral education across 12 academic units, alongside scientific and technological research in biotechnology, nuclear technology, nanosystems, environmental science, and industrial quality. The university delivers formal degree programs, continuing education courses, extension services, and technology transfer to industry, supported by co-managed research infrastructure with national scientific bodies.

Product overview

Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM) is a public national university founded in 1992, offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational and research services. The university operates 12 academic units including 8 schools (Ciencia y Tecnología, Humanidades, Economía y Negocios, Política y Gobierno, Bio y Nanotecnología, Arte y Patrimonio, IDAES, Hábitat y Sostenibilidad) and 4 specialized institutes (INCALIN, IDB Dan Beninson, ITS Sabato, ICRM). The institution delivers 171 active degree programs (171 carreras vigentes), 21 doctorates, and extensive continuing education through diplomaturas and courses. Research outputs include the ARVAC COVID vaccine (first 100% Argentine vaccine), bone regeneration technology, and biomedical devices. The university provides digital services through SIU Guaraní (student academic management) and Campus Virtual UNSAM (online learning platform). With over 65% of resources dedicated to science and technology, UNSAM maintains partnerships with CONICET, CNEA, INTI, and INTA for research and human capital development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate and Graduate Degree Programs Formal undergraduate, master's, specialization, and doctoral degree programs offered tuition-free across the university's 12 academic units. Targeted at Argentine and international students seeking higher education credentials.
• Curso de Preparación Universitaria (CPU) Pre-university preparatory course offered by UNSAM to incoming students as a pathway into formal degree programs. Targeted at prospective undergraduate students needing preparation for university-level coursework.
• Campus Virtual UNSAM (Online Learning Platform) Virtual learning management system providing online and hybrid education services to students. Targeted at enrolled UNSAM students and remote learners.
• SIU Guaraní Academic Management System University-wide student academic management system for course enrollment, grades, enrollment management, and administrative services. Targeted at UNSAM students and academic administrators.
• ARVAC Cecilia Grierson Vaccine Argentina's first 100% domestically developed vaccine against COVID-19, developed by UNSAM researchers through the Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas.
• Bone Regeneration Paste Biomedical research advancement by UNSAM scientists for bone tissue regeneration, representing innovation in regenerative medicine.
• Portable Sleep Disorder Detector Health technology device developed by UNSAM researchers for portable detection and monitoring of sleep disorders.
• INCALIN Industrial Quality and Technology Services Industrial quality training, measurement, normalization, and process management services for Argentine SMEs and industry, delivered through INCALIN in association with INTI.
• Dan Beninson Nuclear Technology Training Programs Specialized training from pre-degree to doctoral level in nuclear technology, radiochemistry, radiotherapy physics, and nuclear reactors, with a Center for Education and Training for Nuclear Installations (CEEPIN).
• Study Abroad Program International student exchange program supporting inbound and outbound student mobility through UNSAM's network of foreign university agreements.
• Continuing Education and Diplomaturas Continuing education courses, diplomaturas, and professional programs offered across UNSAM's academic units for post-degree specialization.

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Fundación KonexminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026The Konex Foundation commissioned the Circus School and Company La Arena, based at UNSAM, to create an adaptation of Mozart's The Magic Flute as a circus-opera hybrid for their 'Vamos a la ópera' cultural cycle, combining singers from Teatro Colón with UNSAM circus acrobates.
• Universidad de Georgetown (EE.UU.)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Students from Georgetown University are conducting research internships at UNSAM, representing ongoing international academic exchange and cooperation between the two institutions in the field of research and higher education.
• Universidad de SalamancaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026UNSAM and the University of Salamanca have conducted joint academic activities in nursing and health sciences, including an International Nursing Day event and a formal academic cooperation meeting to strengthen institutional ties.
• Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026A joint research team from UNSAM and UBA achieved the birth of the first cloned pig in Latin America with three inactivated genes (GGTA1, CMAH, B4GalNT2) designed to reduce immunological rejection in future organ transplants. The animal was born at UBA's Veterinary Faculty, with UNSAM contributing scientific expertise in biotechnology and genetic research.
• CONICET (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCONICET is the primary national scientific research agency with which UNSAM co-manages numerous research institutes and trains human resources. The partnership is central to UNSAM's research output, publications, and scientific career development.
• CNEA (Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCNEA co-manages the Dan Beninson Nuclear Technology Institute and the Sabato Technology Institute within UNSAM, providing the institutional framework for nuclear, materials science, and related technology education and research.
• INTI (Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Industrial)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerINTI co-manages the Instituto de Calidad Industrial (INCALIN) at UNSAM and contributes to industrial quality training, technology transfer, and innovation services for Argentine SMEs and industry.
• INTA (Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerINTA collaborates with UNSAM on research, development, and human resource formation in agricultural and biotechnology fields, strengthening the university's applied science capacity.
• Over 250 Foreign UniversitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNSAM has signed over 250 agreements with foreign universities for the exchange of students, faculty, and researchers. This network supports joint research projects, academic mobility programs, and internationalization of the curriculum.
• Northwestern UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe School of Habitat and Sustainability (EHyS) maintains an international partnership with Northwestern University in the United States, contributing to academic exchange and collaborative research in environment and sustainability.
• Universidad Complutense de MadridminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe School of Habitat and Sustainability (EHyS) maintains an international partnership with the Universidad Complutense de Madrid in Spain, supporting collaborative academic and research activities in sustainability.
• Universidad Industrial de Santander (Colombia)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe School of Habitat and Sustainability (EHyS) maintains an international partnership with Universidad Industrial de Santander in Colombia, contributing to cross-border academic cooperation in environment and sustainability.
• Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería (Perú)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe School of Habitat and Sustainability (EHyS) maintains an international partnership with Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería in Peru, supporting academic exchange in engineering and sustainability disciplines.
• UNESCOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNSAM hosts a UNESCO Chair, contributing to international academic programs and policy development in selected fields, reflecting the university's engagement with global educational and scientific bodies.
• INVAP S.E.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerINVAP S.E., Argentina's state-owned high-technology company, is closely associated with UNSAM through the Sabato Institute and joint projects involving satellite technology, nuclear reactors (such as the RA-3 research reactor), and other advanced technology developments.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA): Argentina's largest and oldest public university. UBA is UNSAM's most direct peer — they already collaborate on the cloned-pig xenotransplantation breakthrough and compete for the same Buenos Aires-metro student, faculty, and CONICET-aligned researcher pool.
• Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP): Another large Argentine public national university with strong graduate and research programs, comparable CONICET integration, and direct competition for faculty, students, and national research funding.
• Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (UNC): The oldest university in Argentina and a major public research university. UNC competes with UNSAM at the national level for doctoral students, federal research grants, and top-tier academic talent.
• Universidad Nacional de Rosario (UNR): Major Argentine public national university with comparable scale in science, engineering, and social sciences. UNR is a like-for-like peer in funding model, governance, and CONICET-linked research footprint.
• Universidad Nacional de Quilmes (UNQUI): Buenos Aires-area public national university founded in 1989 with a science-and-technology emphasis and strong graduate research culture. UNQUI is one of the closest institutional analogues to UNSAM in mission and origin.
• Universidad Nacional del Litoral (UNL): Argentine public national university with a recognized focus on science, technology, and applied research. Comparable to UNSAM in offering engineering, biotechnology, and industrial extension programs co-managed with national bodies.
• Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina (UCA): Major Argentine private university with comparable graduate and research offerings. UCA competes with UNSAM for tuition-paying graduate students and for private-sector research partnerships in Buenos Aires.

Others

• CONICET: Argentina's national scientific research council — not a degree-granting institution but the principal research partner that co-governs UNSAM's institutes and supplies the bulk of its research career researchers. Essential counterpart rather than competitor.

Regional players

• Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM): Largest public research university in Latin America with similar structure (federal funding, broad S&T mandate, biomedical and nuclear research capabilities). Comparable in governance model rather than geography.
• Universidade de São Paulo (USP): Brazil's flagship public research university with comparable scale and breadth across engineering, biotechnology, and humanities. Useful Latin American benchmark for S&T allocation ratios and research output intensity.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/unsamoficial
• Facebookfacebook.com/unsamoficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/universidad-nacional-de-san-martin

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Universidad Nacional de San Martín